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Reign: Ontario Completes Series Sweep With 4-1 Win Over Vegas

by
Staff Writer
/ Los Angeles Kings

ONTARIO, Calif. – The Ontario Reign, 2011-12 Pacific Division Champions and proud affiliate of the NHL’s 2012 Stanley Cup Champion Los Angeles Kings, end the preseason with a total of two wins over division rivals, Las Vegas Wranglers with a 4-1 victory on Friday, Oct. 5 before a crowd of 4,628 at Citizens Business Bank Arena.

C.J. Stretch added an unassisted tally to the board in his first 2012 pre-season appearance sending a quick shot past Vegas goaltender Mitch O’Keefe just more than one minute into play. The Reign controlled the majority of the first period keeping the puck in the Wranglers end, firing 15 shots at the goaltender while Ontario’s Brad Phillips saw just five from Las Vegas. With less than five minutes to go in the period, Las Vegas’ Judd Blackwater sent a hard slap shot from the top of the left circle past Phillips for a power-play goal.

The Wranglers gained a little more control of the puck in the second period as Ontario gave them three power play opportunities. However, they couldn’t convert a single one. With five seconds left on a Reign power play, Cameron Burt fed a pass to LoVerde at the point who sent a hard slapshot through traffic to give Ontario the lead with 1:15 left in the period.

Reign newcomers Alex Hudson and Matt Clune set up Brodie Sheahan with a beautiful feed right in the Las Vegas end for the third Reign tally of the night, the second power play goal. At the 8:48 mark, Derek Couture skated the puck right up the center of the ice past three Wranglers defensemen and slipped the puck past O’Keefe’s glove side for the Reign’s fourth goal of the night. Colton Yellow Horn earned his second assist of the series on the goal.

Las Vegas’ O’Keefe took the loss stopping 34 of 38 shots and Phillips stopped all but one of the Wranglers’ 25 shots.

The 2012-13 regular season begins on the road for the Reign when they play the Stockton Thunder on Friday, Oct. 12. The Reign will bring it home the following night when Stockton visits Citizens Business Bank Arena on Saturday, Oct. 13 at 6:00 p.m. The first 3,000 fans will recieve a pink puck, compliments of Nestle Pure Life Water. All fans will receive a 2012-13 season magnet schedule, sponsored by Image Pest Control and Ignite Advertising. Also, the Reign will be unveiling the 2011-12 Pacific Division Championship banner.

For Opening Night tickets click here. It’s not too late to get season tickets and all of the benefits that go along with being a Reign season ticket holder! Click here to learn more about how to join the fun all season long.